Inflatable umbrellas

ABSTRACT

An inflatable umbrella comprises a shield or cover member in the form of a cone-like member comprising first hook means extending downwardly of the center of said shield member, and a support member comprising complementary hook means engageable with said hook means of the shield member and a plurality of upstanding stiffeners around said hook means to maintain the shield member fully open. The shield member comprises a plurality of radially evenly distributed elongated inflatable receptacles, with one end thereof sealed and with the other end thereof provided with an integral nozzle for inflation purposes, and an air distributing member having an inflation valve and a ball-shaped cavity with a plurality of nozzles to be engaged to the inflation nozzles of said receptacles to provide for the simultaneous inflation thereof, whereby said receptacles are stiffened. The handle stick member comprises an inflatable cylindrical member divided into a plurality of axial inflatable compartments, each of said inflatable compartments having one end sealed and the other end provided with an integral inflation valve. The upper end of the handle stick member comprises a cover member to which said complementary hook means is engaged and along which said upstanding stiffeners can slide for extension or retraction thereof.

United StatesPatent [191 Aburto 1 Feb.4, 1975 [54] INFLATABLE UMBRELLAS [76] Inventor: Carlos Mota Aburto, Donceles 86-1,

Mexico [22] Filed: May 21, 1973 211 App]. No.: 362,259

[52] US. Cl 135/20 B [51] Int. Cl A45b 19/02 [58] Field of Search 135/20, 20 B [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,401,252 5/1946 Klimashesky 135/20 B FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 62,146 6/1968 Germany 135/20 B Primary Examiner-J. Karl Bell Attorney, Agent, or FirmOb10n, Fisher, Spivak, McClelland & Maier [57] ABSTRACT An inflatable umbrella comprises a shield or cover member in the form of a cone-like member comprising first hook means extending downwardly of the center of said shield member, and a support member comprising complementary hook means engageable with said hook means of the shield member and a plurality of upstanding stiffeners around said hook means to maintain the shield member fully open.

The shield member comprises a plurality of radially evenly distributed elongated inflatable receptacles, with one end thereof sealed and with the other end thereof provided with an integral nozzle for inflation purposes, and an air distributing member having an inflation valve and a ball-shaped cavity with a plurality of nozzles to be engaged to the inflation nozzles of said receptacles to provide for the simultaneous inflation thereof, whereby said receptacles are stiffened.

The handle stick member comprises an inflatable cylindrical member divided into a plurality of axial inflatable compartments, each of said inflatable compartments having one end sealed and the other end provided with an integral inflation valve. The upper end of the handle stick member comprises a cover member to which said complementary hook means is engaged and along which said upstanding stiffeners can slide for extension or retraction thereof.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 1 INFLATABLE UMBRELLAS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION rigid or telescopically retractible, along which there is provided a hollow cylindrical sleeve capable of upwardly and downwardly sliding movement along said cane, the sleeve being provided on its outer surface and circunferentially thereto, with a plurality of spokes having their free ends pivotally engaged to a plurality of rods which form part of the shield or cover member of the umbrella, said rods being engaged to the upper end of the cane or stick and being radially extended therefrom to provide for the opening or closing operation of the umbrella. The shield member of the umbrella is in turn engaged, at its center, to the upper end of the handle stick so as to form a completely integral device. This type of devices, however, cannot be reduced in size when retracted because said retraction cannot go beyond merely folding the shield member of the umbrella around the handle stick such that a sort of a cane is formed, whereby the device occupies considerable space on account of being very long and therefore cumbersome for its transportation, mainly for persons which normally carry a plurality of packages or bundles such as is the case of excursionists and soldiers. Some prior art umbrellas have been provided with a telescopically retractible handle stick, which improves the size reduction operation. Nevertheless, this type oftelescopic sticks cannot be retracted in length by more than one half, whereby the problems of having to carry a rigid and rather bulky device are not solved in full.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to avoid the disadvantages and drawbacksof the prior art umbrellas, the present invention provides a novel inflatable umbrella which can comprise as few as two inflatable members which can be folded to a very small and comfortable size to be carried without any difficulty.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an inflatable umbrella comprising two engageable inflatable members, said members being completely foldable down to a very small size.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an inflatable umbrella of the above mentioned character, having a very economical and simple construction.

' It is still another object of the present invention to provide an umbrella of the above mentioned character, which can be inflated by simply blowing with the mouth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The novel features that are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof. will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a cross-sectional elevational view of the inflatable umbrella built in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the umbrella built in accordance with the present invention in an inflated condition;

FIG. 3 is a top plan cross-sectional view of the handle stick of the inflatable umbrella of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective fragmentary cross-sectional view of the inflatable spokes or receptacles which form part of the shield or cover member of the umbrella;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary partially broken-away perspective view of one of the receptacles of the shield member of the umbrella, showing one connection of said receptacles with an air distributing ball shaped member of an inflation valve;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view ofa helmet-type supporting member which forms another embodiment of the umbrella of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the umbrella, showing another embodiment of the connecting members for inflation purposes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Having now more particular reference to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 5 thereof, there is shown an inflatable umbrella built in accordance with a first and preferred embodiment of the present invention, which comprises an umbrella shield or cover member 1 and an umbrella cane or handle stick member 2.

The shield member 1 can be formed by a single panel or a plurality of panels 3 which can be shaped so as to provide a predetermined form for the shield or cover member 1 for the umbrella, such as for instance, conical, semispherical, parabolic and the like. A plurality of radial hollow inflatable receptacles 4 are sealed to the edges of panels 3, to form a plurality of hollow inflatable spokes or pipes radially extending through the shield member I and evenly distributed along its circumference.

The inflatable pipes 4 are sealed at their ends 5 proximate the outer periphery of the shield member 1 to provide a closed end and the diameter of said pipes 4 is reduced at 6 to form a tubular nozzle or neck 7 of smaller diameter, preferably integrally connected to the ball shaped member for distributing the air for inflation purposes.

An inflation valve 9 of any suitable type, illustratively shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings as preferably comprising an elongated tubular mouth piece 10 and a cone valve member 11, is integrally connected to the hollow ball shaped member 8 from which the plurality of small diameter air nozzles 7 outwardly and radially project, by means of a nipple I2 integrally sealed to said ballshaped member 8.

The bottom 13 of the ball member 8 is slightly flattened to provide the center support of the shield member 2 of the umbrella and, from the center of said bottom 13 of member 8, a tubular or rod member 14 extends downwardly to provide engagement between members I and 2, said tubular portion being substantially rigid and comprising an eye 15 preferably integrally engaged to said rod 14. y

The cane or handle stick 2 of the umbrella is formed by a flexible inflatable tubular body l6 closed at its upper end by a circular plate member 17 provided with a hook member 19 attached on the upper end of a substantially rigid tubular or rod member 18, integrally or otherwise attached to the solid plate member 17.

The upper end of the cane or handle stick 2 is provided with an annular guide member 20 to upwardly and downwardly guide a plurality of stiffeners 21 which extend vertically through the guide member 20 and which are jointly supported by a cylindrical body 22 having on its outer surface snap-acting stops 23 to engage the complementary cavities 24 provided on the inner surface of guide member 20, to fix the extended position of stiffeners 21.

Each of the above mentioned plurality of stiffeners 21 is a relatively thick elongated strip ofa resilient plastic material formed at its free end as a hook 25 to provide for the engagement of said hooks 25 to the upper surface of the guide member 20 to fix the retracted position thereof.

The flexible tubular body portion 16 is integral with or sealingly attached to the cylindrical plate section 17 at one end and is provided with a shoulder 26 at its other end, connected with an integral nipple 27 which contains an inflation valve 28 comprising a cone valve member 29 and a mouth piece 30 for inflation purposes. The tubular member 16 is divided into a plurality of compartments 31 by the incorporation of integral axial baffles 32 provided along the length of member 16 as more clearly shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Therefore, shoulder 26 forms an air distributing chamher for compartments 31.

As mentioned above, the shield member 1 of the umbrella can be built in any desirable shape, inasmuch as said shape will depend on the configuration of panels 3, which will force the inflatable receptacles 4 to follow the desired shape, when inflated. As it can be more clearly seen in FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings, the number of receptacles 4 can be varied, provided that said number is sufficient to stiffen the shield 1 of the umbrella and to maintain the desired shape, aided by the stiffeners 21.

While the device built in accordance with the present invention is preferably used as a regular umbrella, it is within the scope and the spirit of the present invention that said device can also be used with supports other than the handle stick 2, such as is shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, which illustrates another embodiment of the present invention.

It will be seen that the hook 19 attached to the plate member 17 can be fastened in any convenient manner on the center of a helmet member 33 which can be worn by any person through the provision of a suitable belt 34 or the like to fix helmet 33 in the proper position. In this manner, the hook 19 will be engaged to eye 15 of the shield or cover member of the umbrella as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 above, and the stiffeners 21 can be fixedly attached to the plate member 17, whereby said stiffeners will hold the shield member 1 in its extended position.

This embodiment of the invention is highly suitable for persons who have their hands occupied in other activities and are exposed to weather conditions such as rain. Soldiers carrying their weapons and their equipment can derive multiple advantages from this other embodiment of the present invention in view of obvious reasons.

FIG. 7 of the accompanying drawings shows a different embodiment for the construction of the inflatable receptacles 4 provided across the circle formed by panels 3 of the shield member 1 and this particular embodiment of the invention contemplates the provision of a plurality of receptacles 4 interconnected by manifoldtype receptacles 35 circunferentially provided at a portion proximate the center of the shield member 1. The corresponding pipes 7 connect manifolds 35 with the ball-shaped member 8 whereby the number of said pipes is considerably reduced.

The umbrella of the present invention can be provided by the manufacturer in a completely folded condition and, to make useof the same, it may be inflated by means of an air pumping device or, in order to provide more versatility for the user, by blowing with the mouth through valve 9, whereby the air will go through the mouth piece 10, valve member 11 (open). nipple 12, hollow ball-shaped chamber 8 and will be delivered through the nozzles 7 and reduced sections 6, to the inflatable receptacles 4, so as to stiffen the latter together with the panels 3, whereby the umbrella can be extended as it will be explained hereinbelow. When the pipes 4 are completely inflated, the cone valve member 11 is simply rotated in order to stop the flow of air so as to maintain the members fully inflated.

Thereafter, the cane 2 of the umbrella is also inflated through the valve 28 blowing air through the same and maintaining the valve member 29 open until the desired rigidity is provided to body 16 of cane 2. Then the cone valve member 29 is closed, whereby the cane of the umbrella will remain suitably inflated. Finally, the hook member 19 of the cane 2 is hooked within the eye 15 ofthe shield member 1 of the umbrella. and the stiffeners 21 are raised by hand to engagement of the snapacting devices 23, 24, so that the plurality of inflatable receptacles 4 may be suitably supported by stiffeners 21 to thus extend and maintain the shield member 1 of the umbrella fully open by virtue of the fact that the hook l9 pulls down and the stiffeners 21 push up, thus establishing a somewhat rigid connection between the hook 19 and the eye 15.

The elastic strength of the stiffeners 21 is selected such that, when the cane 2 is hooked, member 13 will not sink with respect to the shield member 1 ofthe umbrella, inasmuch as if this happens, a water receptacle may be formed which, on account of its weight, will deform the shield member and even disengage the cane from said shield member.

It can be seen from above that for the first time a fully foldable inflatable umbrella has been provided which, when not inflated, can be carried in any small comfortable package while, when inflated, may be extended to the shape of a regular umbrella. This characteristic renders the umbrella built in accordance with the present invention highly suitable for explorers, excursionists, soldiers, persons attending sport games who are exposed to weather conditions, and the like, inasmuch as, as mentioned above, the umbrella built in accordance with the present invention can be easily and comfortably carried without constituting a cumbersome article. The versatility of the device of the present invention is such that, in accordance with certain preferred embodiments, it can constitute a combination hat and umbrella for providing more comfort when the hands of the user are occupied in other activities.

While in the above the present invention has been described having reference to certain specific and preferred embodiments thereof, it must be understood that many changes or modifications can be effected in said embodiments without thereby departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An inflatable umbrella which comprises, in-combination, a foldable inflatable cone-like shield or cover member and a support member therefor, centrally engageable in supporting relationship thereto; said inflatable cone-like shield or cover member comprising a downwardly flaring cone-like panel, a plurality of radially evenly distributed elongated inflatable receptacles provided on said cone-like panel and forming a part thereof, said elongated inflatable receptacles having their outer ends closed and their inner ends adjacent the apex of said cone-like configurationbeing open, a plurality of inflation nozzle means integrally engaged to said open inner ends of said elongated inflatable receptacles, air distributing means connected to each one of said inflation nozzle means, said air distributing means being disposed on the outer top surface of said downwardly flaring cone-like panel in the region of the apex thereof, inflation air valve means connected to said air distributing means and hookable eye means extending downwardly from the inside center of said cone-like panel; and said support member comprising a bodyengageable flexible member, a rigid circular plate means fixedly attached to one end of said bodyengageable flexible member, hook means extending outwardly from the center of said circular plate means being engageable and disengageable with said downwardly extending bookable eye means of said inflatable cone-like shield or cover member and a plurality of strip-like stiffener members extending upwardly from the periphery of said circular plate means, said striplike stiffener members when positioned against the undersurface of said cone-like shield or cover member when the latter is inflated extending beyond the reach of said hook means to bear against said undersurface and to thereby exert an opening pressure on said inflated cone-like shield or cover member.

2. An inflatable umbrella according to claim 1 wherein said inflation nozzle means provided on said inner ends of said elongated inflatable receptacles comprise reduced diameter integral nipples leading from said inner ends to said air distributing means.

3. An inflatable umbrella according to claim 1 wherein said body-engageable flexible member of said support member comprises an elongated cylindrical inflatable staff member for being held in the hand of a user, further inflation nozzle means at the lower end of said cylindrical inflatable staff member and further air valve means connected to said further inflation nozzle means, said rigid circular plate means having a peripheral annular member concentrically disposed thereabout and forming a circular guide slit with the periphery of said plate means, said strip-like stiffener members being guidedly arranged through said guide slit to slide vertically therein between an extended position and a retracted position, and said strip-like stiffener members being ganged by means of a ring member engaged with the lower ends thereof for movement in unison with each other through said guide slit.

4. An inflatable umbrella according to claim 3 wherein said strip-like stiffener members are provided with a bent hook-like upper end to abut on the upper surfaces of said peripheral annular member in order to fix the retracted position of said strip-like stiffener members.

5. An inflatable umbrella according to claim 2 wherein said air distributing means comprises a ball- Y shaped flexible member having a plurality of openings sealingly engaged to said inflation nozzle means, the latter being downwardly inclined and radially distributed around said ball-shaped member, said inflation air valve means being connected to an upper central opening provided in said ball-shaped member.

6. An inflatable umbrella according to claim 5 wherein said inflation air valve means comprises a cylindrical nipple integrally connected to said ball-shaped member, a fast acting valve member across said nipple, and a mouth piece at the free end of said nipple.

7. An inflatable umbrella according to claim 4, wherein one of said peripheral annular member and said ring member is provided with a plurality of snapacting stops and the other of said peripheral annular member and said ring member is provided with a corresponding plurality of complementary cavities in order to fix the extended position of said strip-like stiffener members.

8.. An inflatable umbrella according to claim 3 wherein said cylindrical inflatable elongated staff member is divided into a plurality of axially extending compartments by means of corresponding longitudinal baffles engaged to the wall of said cylindrical inflatable staff member, said further inflation nozzle means comprising an air distributing chamber to allow air from said further air valve means to flow into each one of said compartments to provide a better rigidity of said staff member.

9. An inflatable umbrella according to claim l wherein said body-engageable flexible member of said support member comprises a flexible helmet for accommodation on the head of the user, said flexible helmet being provided with a chin belt for fastening pur- 

1. An inflatable umbrella which comprises, in combination, a foldable inflatable cone-like shield or cover member and a support member therefor, centrally engageable in supporting relationship thereto; said inflatable cone-like shield or cover member comprising a downwardly flaring cone-like panel, a plurality of radially evenly distributed elongated inflatable receptacles provided on said cone-like panel and forming a part thereof, said elongated inflatable receptacles having their outer ends closed and their inner ends adjacent the apex of said conelike configuration being open, a plurality of inflation nozzle means integrally engaged to said open inner ends of said elongated inflatable receptacles, air distributing means connected to each one of said inflation nozzle means, said air distributing means being disposed on the outer top surface of said downwardly flaring cone-like panel in the region of the apex thereof, inflation air valve means connected to said air distributing means and hookable eye means extending downwardly from the inside center of said cone-like panel; and said support member comprising a body-engageable flexible member, a rigid circular plate means fixedly attached to one end of said bodyengageable flexible member, hook means extending outwardly from the center of said circular plate means being engageable and disengageable with said downwardly extending hookable eye means of said inflatable cone-like shield or cover member and a plurality of strip-like stiffener members extending upwardly from the periphery of said circular plate means, said strip-like stiffener members when positioned against the undersurface of said cone-like shield or cover member when the latter is inflated extending beyond the reach of said hook means to bear against said undersurface and to thereby exert an opening pressure on said inflated cone-like shield or cover member.
 2. An inflatable umbrella according to claim 1 wherein said inflation nozzle means provided on said inner ends of said elongated inflatable receptacles comprise reduced diameter integral nipples leading from said inner ends to said air distributing means.
 3. An inflatable umbrella according to claim 1 wherein said body-engageable flexible member of said support member comprises an elongated cylindrical inflatable staff member for being held in the hand of a user, further inflation nozzle means at the lower end of said cylindrical inflatable staff member and further air valve means connected to said further inflation nozzle means, said rigid circular plate means having a peripheral annular member concentrically disposed thereabout and forming a circular guide slit with the periphery of said plate means, said strip-like stiffener members being guidedly arranged through said guide slit to slide vertically therein between an extended position and a retracted position, and said strip-like stiffener members being ganged by means of a ring member engaged with the lower ends thereof for movement in unison with each other through said guide slit.
 4. An inflatable umbrella according to claim 3 wherein said strip-like stiffener members are provided with a bent hook-like upper end to abut on the upper surfaces of said peripheral annular member in order to fix the retracted position of said strip-like stiffener members.
 5. An inflatable umbrella according to claim 2 wherein said air distributing means comprises a ball-shaped flexible member having a plurality of openings sealingly engaged to said inflation nozzle means, the latter being downwardly inclined and radially distributed around said ball-shaped member, said inflation air valve means being connected to an upper central opening provided in said ball-shaped member.
 6. An inflatable umbrella according to claim 5 wherein said inflation air valve means comprises a cylindrical nipple integrally connected to said ball-shaped member, a fast acting valve member across said nipple, and a mouth piece at the free end of said nipple.
 7. An inflatable umbrella according to claim 4, wherein one of said peripheral annular member and said ring member is provided with a plurality of snap-acting stops and the other of said peripheral annular member and said ring member is provided with a corresponding plurality of complementary cavities in order to fix the extended position of said strip-like stiffener members.
 8. An inflatable umbrella according to claim 3 wherein said cylindrical inflatable elongated staff member is divided into a plurality of axially extending compartments by means of corresponding longitudinal baffles engaged to the wall of said cylindrical inflatable staff member, said further inflation nozzle means comprising an air distributing chamber to Allow air from said further air valve means to flow into each one of said compartments to provide a better rigidity of said staff member.
 9. An inflatable umbrella according to claim 1 wherein said body-engageable flexible member of said support member comprises a flexible helmet for accommodation on the head of the user, said flexible helmet being provided with a chin belt for fastening purposes. 